Reversible front panel for pianos and the like



July 22, 1941. J. PFAFF 2,249,978

REVERSIBLE FRONT PANEL FOR PIANOS AND THE LIKE Filed July 3, 1940 3Sheets-Sheet 1 "lllllllllllllfllllllll llll WWW INVENTOR.

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July 22, 1941. PFAFF 2,249,978

REVERSIBLE FRONT PANEL FOR PIANOS AND THE LIKE Filed July- 3, 1940 3Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR. fo/wv PF/FFF July 22, 1941. J. PFAFF 2,249,978

REVERSIBLE FRONT PANEL FOR PIANOS AND THE LIKEv Filed July 5, 1940 sSheets-Sheet a INVENTOR. Ja/r/v FFflFf-T Patented July 22, 1941REVERSIBLE FRONT PANEL FOR FIANOS AND THE LIKE John Pfafi, Sycamore,Ill., assignor to The E dolph Wurlitzer Company,

corporation Cincinnati, Ohio, a

Application July 3, 1940, Serial No. 343,676

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a reversible front panel for decorative use inconnection with pianos, organs and the like, wherein various decorativeappearances may be given to the piano by the user thereof.

It is recognized that the decorative appearance or styling of pianocasings plays an important part in the sale and use thereof, inasmuch asthe piano becomes a decorative part of the home furnishings in additionto being a mere musical instrument. Wherein the tastes or appeal mayvary among purchasers and users of the instrument, it is the purpose ofthis invention to incorporate in one structure different appearingdesigns of the front panel, which is the most noticeable part of thepiano casing. Thus, in the one structure, the appearance and styling ofthe casing may be readily and easily altered to meet the appeal ofdifferent purchasers and users.

This is accomplished by providing a suitable front panel frame extendingvertically between the keyboard and the top lid of the piano casing, thecentral portion of the frame embodying the usual music rack andproviding openings on each side thereof for reception of reversible orinterchangeable decorative panels. Thus, the appearance and styling ofthe piano may be readily altered by a change in the decorative frontpanel by raising the lid and reversing or replacing panel sectionswithin said frame.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a piano embodying the invention. Fig. 2is the same as the upper portion of Fig. 1 with the panel sectionsreversed. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the panel frame with the panelsections in place, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section taken on theline 4-4 of Fig, 3. Fig. 5 is the same as Fig. 4 showing the framestructure with the panel sections being removed. Fig. 6 is the same asFig. 4 showing a modified form of holding member in looking position.Fig. 7 is the same as Fig. 6 showing the holding member in releasingposition.

In the drawings there is shown a piano embodying the invention hereindescribed, and comprising a keyboard covered by a fallboard H supportedalong the front edge upon the legs l2. The keyboard is supported at itsrear by the piano casing in the usual manner, said casing including endpanels 13, bottom panel 54 and hinged lid IS.

The decorative front panel, which extends upwardly between the keyboardor fallboard and the lid l5, embodies a centrally arranged music rack l5and panel sections ll extending on opposite sides thereof. Said frontpanel is supported by a frame structure, as shown in Fig, 3, comprisingthe horizontal upper and lower bars I 8 and I9, respectively. The lowerbar is rigidly secured to the music shelf 20 and the upper bar isrigidly secured to the top rail 2| upon which the forward edge of thelid l5 rests A central opening is defined by the upright frame members22 while openings on each side thereof are provided between the uprights22 and the end panels 13.

The decorative panel sections H are removably supported and locked inplace within the end openings of the panel frame, embodying upon oneside a decorative surface, such as illustrated in Fig. 1, and on theother side a decorative surface, such as illustrated in Fig. 2. Thus,there is shown on the panel sections ll a decorative surface simulatingbookbacks of musical interest, as indicated at A (see Fig. 1), whereasthe reverse decorative surface of said panel sections is in the natureof matched grain veneer, as indicated at B (see Fig. 2).

The horizontal bars 18 and IQ of the frame are chamfered along theirinner edge to provide a flanged seat and abutment for supporting andlocking the panel sections in place said panel sections being providedalong their upper and lower edges with the flanges or tongues 23 forseating within the chamfered portions of said frame bars.

For conveniently and removably supporting the panel sections within theframe there is provided to extend over each frame opening a pair ofspaced vertical holding bars 24 having their lower ends hinged at 25 tothe bottom bar IQ of the frame and their upper free ends being removablylocked by a latch 26 pivoted to the upper frame 2| at 21. Adjacent eachend of the holding bars 24 there are provided adjustable bearing screws28 so positioned as to extend forwardly into engagement with the upperand lower flanges 23, respectively, and press them firmly intointerlocking engagement with the inwardly extending flange portions ofthe cross bars I 8, I9.

When it is desired to reverse or interchange said panel sections, thelid I5 is raised, the pivoted latches 26 swung to horizontal position,and the holding bars 24 are swung rearwardly and downwardly about theirhinged mounting 25 to free said sections. Thereupon the sections may bereversed or replaced and the latching bars returned to latchingposition. This has the effect of changing the appearance or styling ofthe piano from that shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, forexample.

In the modified forms shown in Figs. 6 and '7, a holding member in theform of a spring I24 is provided in place of the rigid holding bars 24.The lower end of the spring is secured to the bottom l9 at the framewhile the upper end is curved to form a head 128 engageable with therear unexposed surface of the panel. Thus the spring I24 holds the panelin position within the frame under spring tension while permittingremoval thereof by forcing the panel rearwardly against the tension ofthe spring to a position as shown in Fig. 7 wherein it may be removedfrom the frame for reversal.

The invention claimed is:

1. A decorative front panel for pianos, organs and the like having avertical frame embracing a pair of openings extending between the pianokeyboard and top lid, a reversible panel section adapted to fit intoeach of said openings and provided with different decorative surfaces onopposite sides thereof, a pair of hinged holding bars pivotallyconnected at their lower ends to the bottom portion of said frame, and alatch operable to releasably secure the upper ends of said bars to theupper portion of said frame in holding engagement with said panelsections for removably securing them within the frame with the selectedone of the decorative surfaces exposed through the openings therein.

2. A decorative front panel for pianos, organs and the like, having avertical frame embracing a pair of openings between the piano keyboardand top lid, said openings being arranged on opposite sides of the musicrack portion, a reversible panel section adapted to fit into each ofsaid openings and provided with different decorative surfaces onopposite sides thereof, a plurality of holding bars hinged to the lowerportion of said frame and extending transversely of the openings thereinto the upper portion thereof, hinged latches on said frame operable toreleasably secure the upper ends of said bars thereto, and adjustablemeans on said bars adapted to engage the unexposed side of said panelsections to removably hold them firmly within said frame.

3. A decorative front panel for pianos, organs and the like having avertical frame embracing a pair of openings between the piano keyboardand top lid, a reversible panel section adapted to fit into each of saidopenings and provided with different decorative surfaces on oppositesides thereof, a flange formed along the upper and lower edge of saidpanel engageable with a complementary flange extending along the lowerand upper portions of said frame respectively adapted to effectinterengagement between said panel and frame to position the paneltherein, and a holding member having its lower end secured to the lowerportion of the frame and its upper free end engageable against the rearunexposed surface of the panel operable to hold it in seated relation tothe opening of the frame while permitting removal and reversal thereof.

4. A decorative front panel for pianos, organs and the like having avertical frame embracing a pair of openings between the piano keyboardand top lid, a reversible panel section adapted to fit into each of saidopenings and provided with different decorative surfaces on oppositesides thereof, a flange formed along the upper and lower edge of saidpanel engageable with a complementary flange extending along the lowerand upper portions of said frame for interengagement between said paneland frame to position the panel therein, and a resilient holding memberin the form of an upstanding spring having its lower end secured to thelower portion of the frame and its upper free end yieldingly engageablewith the unexposed rear surface of the panel operable to hold it inposition under spring tension while permitting forcible movement againstthe tension of said member to free it from the frame and permit reversalthereof.

JOHN PFAFF.

